“No.”
Nearly laughing in my face, Ruin says, “Well, how about I promise to kiss Selene a lot, including plenty of tongue action, to really impress upon Landry how I’m a taken man. That way, your lady won’t get any ideas about pining for old Hoyt Macready.”
“I’m going to punch you in the dick.”
“Naw, man, you’d need to lean down too far. Might hurt your back. You better keep yourself healthy for all those little ones you’re now raising.”
I glare at Ruin’s back as he struts to the first idling car. I hear him tell the assholes inside to call his office if they want to get together with the sheriff’s department and hash shit out.
“The Valley and your shithole town share a sheriff’s department. I’ll wait for your call,” he says before walking to his truck.
I don’t know what he says to Selene and Yazmin, but they wave at me. As I lock up the house, Ruin drives his truck backward rather than loop around. The moving truck follows him. Armor, Dice, and Smokey wait for me to get on my hog. We ride past the idling cars and still-yelling bitches.
Over my shoulder, I look back at the house I once religiously stalked. At a light, I check my phone to find a picture from Woodrow. In it, Landry rests on Brooklyn’s bed with Beckett. Beau sits at the end of the mattress, looking at a block in his hand. On the floor, Blair and Brooklyn play with the dolls I bought after seeing the girls on their back porch one evening. They all look comfortable at my house, and I admire the smile on Landry’s beautiful face.
Her expression eases my rage at the Copper fucks and irritation at Ruin’s meddling. All I can think about is what waits for me back at my house.
LANDRY
Around ten, Rosemarymakes a snack for my kids while Woodrow asks me questions about what they’ll need.
The lumberjack-looking man speaks so quietly as if he’s barely awake. I sense his tone is a con. Beneath the surface is a recoiled snake, wary of newcomers. Whereas Silas wears his emotions—mainly rage—as a suit of armor, Woodrow puts on this easygoing outdoorsman mask.
“How did you meet Silas?” I ask when I can’t think of anything the kids need.
“We grew up on the same street. I moved away when we were teenagers. I returned later with Rosemary to deal with my dying mom. Afterward, Nomad offered us jobs and a place to live.”
“Is he your friend or your employer?”
“Both.”
“And you knew about us?”
“Oh, yeah,” he says and chuckles. “Nomad couldn’t keep that to himself. He’s been wild about you for months.”
“Why?”